To search for homes for sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida, click HERE!

John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol of Local Knowledge

According to Realtor.com’s Top 10 Turnaround Town list, Naples, Florida makes the list for this quarter. Powered by a 13.38 percent year-over-year increase in median list prices, seventh best in the nation overall, and a 35.94 percent reduction in for sale inventory, the median age of inventory in Naples is down 13.64 percent compared to a year ago.

The demand in Naples, FL has been fueled by foreign buyers as the city attracts 6 percent of Florida’s international sales. While not everyone is considering Naples as a bullish market, according to the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR), sales are up and prices are moderating.

The latest sales data from NABOR confirms that the market is changing, but moving in the right direction. Sales of December single family homes are up 5 percent from December 2010. Inventory is down 17 percent percent from a year ago.  

Find homes for sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero Florida HERE!

John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol of Local Knowledge

Source: UPI.com and NABOR

The report showed that of the 27,826 people who moved to Florida, family income averaged $81,744.

The report zeroed in on 1,300 Wisconsinites with an average family income of $138,713 who moved to the Fort Myers, Fla., area. Another 568 people with an average family income of $274,614 moved to the Naples, Fla., area.

Hey, Wisconsinites! If you’re searching for your new home in Naples, Bonita Springs or Estero, Florida, look no further! John R. Wood Realtors is here to help!

Click HERE to search for homes for sale in Southwest Florida: Naples, Bonita Springs, and Estero!

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Potential buyers sitting on the fence waiting for the rates to go lower may be getting their reason to act: a recent action by Congress may be pushing those rates higher shortly. According to CNNMoney, “to pay for the extension of payroll tax cuts, Congress mandated an increase in fees for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. That could mean an increase in upfront costs for borrowers of about half a point, starting April 1. The new fee would add $500 for every $100,000 in principal.” Instead of an additional upfront fee, borrowers could pay the fee as a higher interest rate, [adding] an additional one-eighth of a point to their rate. That amount might seem inconsequential, but when added to a $250,000 mortgage, the mortgagee could be paying approximately $225 more per year.

With a market filled with desirable listings, interest rates at historic lows, and a threat of rising rates, prospective buyers would benefit from getting off the fence and jumping into the present day ‘buyers’ market.

So, what are you waiting for? Click HERE to find a John R. Wood Agent today!

Click HERE to search for homes for sale in Naples, Estero, and Bonita Springs, Florida!

Read the full report HERE!

Search for homes for sale in Naples HERE!

John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol of Local Knowledge

Is now a good time for you to buy in Southwest Florida? You bet it is!

To search for homes for sale in Naples, Bonita Springs or Estero, FL, click HERE!

John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol of Local Knowledge

 Click on the image below for the full Report!

 To search for homes for sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida, click HERE!

John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol of Local Knowledge!

According to recent reports published by the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR), Annual Pending and Closed Sales Rise

Statistics compiled by NABOR show an increase in overall sales with inventory diminishing in Collier County (excluding Marco Island).  

The available inventory declined 17 percent in 2011 with 7,581 available properties compared to 9,145 available properties in 2010. In the under $300,000 market category, the available inventory declined 21 percent to 3,771 properties in 2011 compared to 4,763 properties in 2010.

 Every market category showed sale increases in both pending and closed sales with the largest increase in the $1 million and above categories.

The 2011 report provides annual comparisons of single-family home and condo sales (via the SunshineMLS), price ranges, geographic segmentation and includes an overall market summary. An overall summary combines the statistics for both single family and condominium properties. The statistics are presented in chart format, along with the following statistics:

• Single family pending sales increased 5 percent with 5,162 contracts in 2011 compared to 4,896 contracts in 2010.
• Condo pending sales increased 11 percent with 4,908 contracts in 2010 compared to 4,422 contracts in 2010.
•  The overall median closed price over $300,000 increased 2 percent to $550,000 in 2011 from $540,000 in 2010.
•  The 2011 fourth quarter report showed overall pending sales for the 12 months ending December 2011 increased 8 percent to 10,071contracts compared to 9,319 contracts for the same 12 months of 2010.
•  Overall closed sales in the $1 million to $2 million category increased 38 percent with 76 sales in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to 55 sales in the fourth quarter of 2010.
•  Single-family home sales in the $500,000 to $1 million price range increased 13 percent with 90 sales in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to 80 sales in the fourth quarter of 2010.
•  Condo sales declined 2 percent to 793 sales in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to 808 sales in the same quarter of 2010.

For additional real estate market statistics, click HERE!

John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol for Local Knowledge

The John R. Wood Realtors’ December 2011 Market Reports are here! Our market reports cover Naples, Estero and Bonita Springs, Florida. As you’ll see from the reports, 2011 was a good year for Southwest Florida real estate!   The number of closed sales increased in all price segments with the exception of those  properties above $5 million, which remained stable. 

To see the full reports, click on the links below! Don’t forget to look at our December 2011 Neighborhood Snapshot reports as well!

Market Report December 2011

Neighborhood Snapshot December 2011

The John R. Wood Realtors’ marketing research department brings Southwest Florida the most up-to-date research and real estate statistics available! Be sure to visit our site to see all of our archived market reports!

Here are some positive signs to track in 2012:

Home sales: Existing home sales are expected to increase 12 percent this year, following a 2 percent jump last year, Moody’s Analytics predicts. The signs are already showing: In November, pending home sales — a gauge for future home buying — reached its highest level in 19 months, NAR reported.

New-home market: Coming off of what could be considered the worst year for new-home building ever recorded, the sector is expected to bounce back this year. New-home sales and starts were already showing a rebound in the last few months of 2011. Moody’s is predicting that single-family housing starts will increase 37 percent this year, and new-home sales will soar 74 percent.

Housing stocks: Investors are starting to get optimistic about the possibility of a rebound too, and are turning to home builder stocks. These equities have recently outperformed the broader stock market and the S&P 1500 homebuilding index has increased 38 percent since mid-October, USA Today reports. 

Consumer confidence: With mortgage rates at record lows and housing affordability high, about 71 percent of Americans say now is a good time to purchase a home. Also, more Americans are optimistic that home prices will rise over the next year — about 26 percent say prices will rise in 2012, an increase of 4 percent over the last survey, according to Fannie Mae’s December National Housing Survey

To search for homes for sale in Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and Marco Island, FL, click HERE!

John R. Wood Realtors – The Symbol for Local Knowledge

Source: Housing Outlook Is More Upbeat, Consumers More Confident, Survey Says